Con Pros

by Damon Suede

Colleagues often tease me about how much
I strategize my career, but after a lifetime of conventions,
conferences, and retreats, I’ve learned that winging it in front of
hundreds or even thousands of people can induce paralysis and invite
disaster.

Measuring twice and cutting once keeps me
in one piece at professional gatherings. The following suggestions
represent an idiosyncratic hodgepodge of practical tactics that have
saved my behonkus on more than one occasion.

Every event has a slightly different
vibe… so the first thing to do with any professional gathering is
identify its focus and flavor: Where and when is it? Who will
attend? Does it last six hours or six days? What’s the size and
scope? Is it for readers, publishers, media, or writers? Keeping its
specifics in mind, build a list of event-specific goals (and
potential snafus) so you know where to put your energy and effort.

Be present! If you want to teach or host something,
organize and book your workshops & panels long before the deadlines.
Don’t overbook; better that you offer one incredible showstopper
than four rushed and sparse mutter-fests.

Show up! Identify the panels and parties that you
“must” attend. It will help other folks find you and keep you
focused. Scrutinize the schedule for people you want to support or
connections you’d like to make. Discuss your options with trusted
cohorts.

Stay put! Every moment spent offsite wastes
professional opportunities. If you’re an author, this isn’t a
vacation and you aren’t at a romance genre event to “get away” from
anything. While you’re there, your job is to connect with
colleagues and readers. If you want tourist-time, then schedule
extra days before or after.

Pace yourself! Every moment onsite you are doing
your job, so be friendly, helpful, and professional. If you
cannot, then step away
until you can do so again. Be sure to schedule hydration, meals, and
downtime unless you want to go postal or catatonic.

Pack
smart! How much are you bringing that will make the
round trip? How much stuff will you acquire before the event is
finished? As you might expect, I organize my luggage as if going on
safari on Mars. In the weeks leading up to the con, think through
what you’re likely to need on hand. Even minimal bag strategy staves
off common catastrophes and eleventh-hour panic attacks.

Your Gear:

Con
Bag: Find a sturdy, manageable case with ample pockets
that can hold swaggage, a laptop, and items you need throughout
the day. I keep mine packed and stocked at all times. The minute
I get home, I empty, clean, and reload it like a gun.

Business cards:
Have something to help colleagues connect. When you're ordering
them, aim for gorgeous, brand-specific design with your email,
website & (perhaps) a
mobile number.

Signing supplies:
Pack several of your favorite pens and a Sharpie™ for glossy
surfaces. Bring extra books to sell, not forgetting your
backlist and samplers. Consider posters or displays for
appearances (and tape or clips to mount them).

Clean pages:
Print out outlines for presentations you're giving and copies of
your reading selections that have been mindfully edited for
public performance. Use a HUGE font for legibility. Include
spare copies!

First-aid:
Have a multivitamin, bandages, and the aspirin/ibuprofen of your
choice. Because lack of sleep guarantees there will be wear and
tear on the chassis.

Wardrobe changes:
Check the weather before you travel. Plan options for different
events; always bring at least one “nice” outfit, a sweater to
combat refrigerated rooms, and a pair of comfortable shoes.
Remember: fun clothes are fine but dress for your authorial
brand.

At the same time, don’t get too stuck
on expectations. Allow
for contingencies good and bad: from stomach flu to surprise
cocktails with J.R. Ward. The more you manage to improvise on the
ground the more you can take advantage of unexpected opportunities.

Your Posse:

Romance events offer fabulous
opportunities to meet people, no matter how shy you might be.
Swirling together with all those likeminded folks can cement
friendships and forge alliances that transform the arc of your
career. Gathering your support team presents an easy way to
guarantee a fun and productive con.

Speak up! Announce your plans in your chapters,
groups, and loops. Discuss the event to find out which of your
friends, allies, and acquaintances will be joining you there.
Identify attendees you’d like to meet. Before you all arrive,
compile a contact sheet (cell
phones & email addresses) to facilitate staying in touch on the
ground.

n.b. GoogleDocs is a fantastic way of gathering data
from folks that can be accessible to a group.

Sit down! Plan a mellow meet-n-greet early in the
schedule so you can identify a few likely con buddies. Once you’ve
met each other, try to establish a trysting place where the group
can convene and discuss developments. This can often help when folks
lose track of each other and makes it easy for organizers and
fans to locate you.

Meet out! Discussions with editors, agents, and
other professional contacts deserve some structure and privacy. Make
use of those meal gaps in your day for a confab away from the
crowds. Likewise, if you
aren’t schmoozing, consider inviting a couple fans to come grab
a quick bite and chat. Impromptu connections can last a lifetime.

Pitch in! Assist your fellow writers and the
organizers when you have downtime. People often forget to ask for
help. Directed goodwill works wonders. Don’t forget to expand your
circle when possible. If you notice friendly stragglers, invite them
to meet your colleagues and chat. Smile… and introduce yourself.
Make people feel welcome and they’ll return the favor. Sharing
contacts mindfully helps everyone involved.

As
my mother used to say, “Luck is opportunity plus preparation.” No
two attendees need or want the same things, so the more you prepare,
the more you can take advantage of the twists of fate and crazy
breaks meant for you and
you alone. With a solid plan, the right tools, and clever allies,
attending genre events can transform your career. Know your goals
and stack the deck in your favor. Romance cons
reward pros

.

.

Copyright 2012. Damon Suede. All Rights
Reserved

Originally published in the Pot of Gold (#13, Q2,
2012), the
newsletter of the
Rainbow Romance Writers chapter of the Romance Writers of America